The 'Quiet storm,' Trey Flowers is having an outstanding season

Thursday

FOXBORO — There are 85 players in the NFL that have more sacks than Trey Flowers. There are 59 players in the league that have more quarterback hits.

This is a perfect example of when statistics don't tell the full story.

The truth is Flowers has been one of the most important players on the Patriots this season. The 25-year-old is playing at Pro Bowl-level this year. He’s irreplaceable on the defensive line. The impact Flowers has can’t be measured by these numbers alone — 2½ sacks and seven quarterback hits.

His coaches and teammates understand that. If opposing linemen don’t, they usually find out on game day.

“I’m not worried about the sack numbers,” Patriots defensive line coach Brendan Daly said. “Those numbers will come. The objective is to win a football game. It’s not to come out with sack numbers. If you turn on the tape and you watch the guy play, production in terms of helping you win football games, it’s at a very high level. Run, pass, batting balls down, hitting the quarterback, pressuring the quarterback, not letting the quarterback scramble — whatever the case may be.

“What Trey Flowers is going to do is exactly what you want him to do, and he’s going to do it to the best of his ability. And usually, that’s pretty damn good.”

Flowers is fine with not being in the limelight. He’s soft-spoken and quiet — even when his teammates egg him on.

Throughout his time in Foxboro, the defensive lineman has been given several nicknames that describe him and his play — "Quiet Storm” and “Technique.” He was originally given the nickname "Technique" by Chris Long and Rob Ninkovich in 2016 due to his flawless style of play. This year, the “Quiet Storm” nickname became known from defensive play caller Brian Flores.

“I think you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who works harder than Trey,” Flores said. “On the field, in the weight room, in the training room, really across the board, this guy works incredibly hard. We call him the Quiet Storm. You don’t hear much from him, but he’s been a warrior for us and he’s played lights-out for us, really, since he’s gotten here. Everyone in the building respects him. He leads by example.”

Flowers laughed when asked about the nicknames.

“They’re cool,” Flowers said. “A lot of people, some of the guys, as far as the teammates, they try to get me to talk or say a little something. I think it just says the type of person I am. Just come in, work hard, don’t really say much. Do the best I can at the technique and go out there and do the best I can to perform.”

He’s certainly done that this season.

Flowers was dominant last weekend against the Green Bay Packers. He finished with just one quarterback hit and a half sack, but there was more to his performance.

Flowers was chasing down Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers all night. Not only was he getting in the backfield, but he did so while starting on the inside at defensive tackle. While standing just 6-foot-2 and weighing 265 pounds, Flowers is undersized for the interior, but his length and strength make him a nightmare for an opposing guard or center.

Flowers' breakout season, in 2016, where he led the Patriots with seven sacks, came with him playing in the interior. Last year, he was moved to defensive end more and finished with 6½ sacks. This season, Flowers has been outstanding even if the statistics don't show it.

This season, Pro Football Focus has him graded as the top edge defender in the NFL just ahead of Brandon Graham, J.J. Watt and Dee Ford.

“He’s done a really good job for us,” Daly said. “Trey does a lot of different things well. I would say a lot of it you don’t see in terms of statistical production… He’s able to play multiple roles. He’s able to get the guys around him aligned, calmed down — he settles things. He really does, in a lot of different ways. He’s been really good for us.”

Added Flowers: “I’m just going to keep rushing and let the numbers take care of themselves.”

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